Black Wind 3
Knight Commander Thomas Hegaty wore a grim expression as he faced Curtis Pershing, the vice-captain of the Eighth Division. The room had been cleared of all personnel, and as an added precaution, a soundproof barrier had been erected. Even so, Hegaty kept his voice low.
"Is this true?"
"There is no doubt. The spy who infiltrated as a Yunatian merchant has been confirmed to have entered the palace in the capital, Tutelary."
"A mere merchant shouldn’t have access to the palace," Hegaty murmured, his voice laced with frustration.
Curtis nodded in agreement.
There weren't many merchants from the Yunatian Empire who traveled to the Kingdom of Slibegrad. Foreign merchants needed a permit to conduct business within the kingdom, but about six months ago, reports started coming in about one such merchant exhibiting suspicious behavior. The Eighth Division, whose primary mission was to monitor, expose, and apprehend subversive elements such as rebels, had been investigating the matter ever since.
"What do you think they’re after?"
"The most straightforward answer would be information regarding His Majesty’s condition and the state of our nation."
"And if we consider a more complex motive?"
"They might be looking for an opportunity to influence our country’s governance."
Curtis answered calmly, his expression betraying no emotion. His ability to maintain composure made him an exceptional vice-captain of the Eighth Division. Despite being of viscount rank, his skills and dedication had earned him his current position. Hegaty didn’t refute Curtis’s hypothesis. It was a possibility he couldn’t dismiss—in fact, Hegaty himself believed it to be highly probable.
"The current emperor is an ambitious man," Hegaty grumbled.
Curtis didn’t respond but neither did he deny the statement. His eyes flickered briefly in agreement.
Calvin Gain Unacaetis, the Emperor of the Yunatian Empire, was notorious for pressuring neighboring countries, including the Kingdom of Slibegrad, into signing treaties that favored his own nation. At the same time, he was quick to resort to military force at the slightest hint of defiance. The Yunatian Empire was the only major power that had endured since the Age of the Three Hundred Years of Darkness. Its deep-rooted pride in its history was immense, and Calvin, a man who couldn’t tolerate not being superior to others, embodied that national arrogance.
"Is there anything else?"
"No, that’s all for now."
"Understood. Continue the investigation."
Curtis bowed slightly, then quietly exited the room, his presence vanishing as he did so.
Hegaty watched his subordinate leave, a troubled expression on his face. While Curtis’s report was concerning, it alone didn’t make it likely that the Yunatian Empire would take action anytime soon. They could simply continue planting spies. However, Hegaty had received information from another source.
――In about six months, the Yunatian Empire’s second prince would be coming on a diplomatic visit.
Prince Roland Dill Unacaetis had just turned sixteen and was rumored to be nothing more than a "foolish prince" with nothing to show for his good looks. Spoiled and arrogant, he was said to have inherited all his father’s worst traits. Despite the talk of a diplomatic visit, it was unlikely to yield anything fruitful. If the Yunatian Empire were serious about the visit, the key players would be the knowledgeable advisors accompanying the prince. Though it wasn’t confirmed, it was anticipated that the prime minister would likely be among them.
For once, Hegaty clicked his tongue in frustration. There were too many troublesome issues piling up.
It was clear that the neighboring country was secretly plotting something against the Kingdom of Slibegrad. Although the specifics were unclear, there was no way their intentions could be benign. Hosting a diplomatic visit in such a tense atmosphere would be nerve-wracking. The prince couldn’t be allowed to suffer even the slightest injury, and at the same time, they had to be vigilant to ensure no sensitive information was leaked. Furthermore, it would be necessary to flush out any domestic nobles or influential figures colluding with the Yunatian Empire.
On top of that, there was the presence of an unknown enemy within the knights’ ranks, which had become evident during the monster attack, the Stampede. It was unclear who in the knight order was harboring ill intentions, but it was safe to exclude the Royalist faction—the group supporting Riley as the next king. However, that didn’t necessarily make things better.
Riley Williams Slibegrad was currently ten years old. Whether he was truly fit to be the next king was something even those within the Royalist faction were still assessing. If one were to include those who were merely observing the situation, the number of nobles outside the Royalist faction far outweighed those within it. While the numbers would dwindle if narrowed down to only those clearly aligned with another faction, there were still plenty of indecisive nobles who could sway depending on the circumstances. Suspicion could not be fully dismissed when it came to these nobles.
Although these issues were giving Hegaty a headache, he first needed to plan for the knight order’s deployment during Prince Roland’s visit. The First Division, responsible for guarding the royal family, would be stationed near the prince, but the most challenging decision was how to utilize the Seventh Division, known for its combat prowess. They would need to supplement their numbers by borrowing knights from the local lord at the inspection sites.
"We’ll need to finalize the list of places to visit and the itinerary for this diplomatic tour…"
The sigh that escaped his lips was heavy with the weight of the troubles before him.
*****
Liliana, who was enjoying tea with Crown Prince Riley in the royal palace after a long while, blinked in surprise.
<Is it true that Prince Roland of the Yunitian Empire is coming on a state visit?>
"Yes, though it’s still a ways off. Right now, we're coordinating the destinations and schedule. We’re planning for him to visit the Clark Duchy as well," Riley said with a smile, not noticing Liliana's brief change in expression.
Liliana suppressed the bitter feelings welling up inside her and maintained a pleasant smile. She knew that Roland Dill Unakaitis, the Second Prince of the Yunitian Empire, though not yet Crown Prince, was expected to become the heir to the throne. The reason a Crown Prince had not yet been decided was due to his father, the Emperor's, intentions. Officially, it was said that no one had yet proven themselves worthy of the position, but in reality, it was believed that the Emperor was reluctant to relinquish his power.
And this Roland Dill Unakaitis was the final capture target. While there were hidden characters, in this real world that didn’t allow for multiple playthroughs like a game, Liliana hadn't expected to encounter them. In the game from her previous life that she now remembered, the final capture target would only appear after all the other characters had been conquered. In other words, meeting Roland would mean that Liliana had now come into contact with every individual who could lead her to ruin.
Riley, in a somewhat excited tone, continued to talk about preparations for the visit. It seemed that the itinerary was being managed not by Liliana’s father, Duke Clark, but by her brother Clyde.
If the Clark Duchy was to be visited, there was only one likely reason. Liliana asked straightforwardly.
<Is it for the Crimson Dye?>
"Yes, that's the main objective," Riley confirmed with a nod. Then, as if remembering something, he added, "Oh, by the way..."
"The patent you mentioned earlier, to protect inventions—that’s ready to be granted. We've set up the necessary legal framework, so now any innovative invention within the Kingdom of Slibegrad will be protected for a certain period."
<That's wonderful> Liliana responded.
Granting inventors a patent and financial protection would likely invigorate industry within the kingdom. It would also encourage the development of better inventions, and the income generated from a patent could fund future innovations.
And more importantly, the legislation regarding patents was Riley’s first achievement as Crown Prince. Although Liliana was officially unaware of this, word had it that some nobles had started to re-evaluate Riley's abilities. It seemed that the concept of a patent was nobel and appealing to them.
If an idea is too innovative, it often faces resistance, but Riley has skillfully adjusted the concept to be more palatable. Liliana deepened her smile.
Riley then said with a cheerful expression.
"We’re considering holding the kingdom's first patent award ceremony when Prince Roland is here for his visit. And the first patent will be awarded to the developer of the Crimson Dye."
<Oh, do you mean the museum director?>
"Yes, it’s been decided he’s the most suitable candidate."
The director of the Crimson Museum was the researcher who had explained the history and research of the Crimson Dye when Riley visited. Despite his commoner origins, his knowledge and enthusiasm were exceptional. As Riley said, he was indeed the right choice to receive the first patent. His achievement in enabling domestic production of the highly challenging Crimson Dye, as well as establishing it as an industry, was invaluable. He would no doubt continue to contribute to the development of Slibegrad’s industries.
Liliana nodded without hesitation. There was no reason to object. Riley then added
"I’d like you to attend the award ceremony as well."
Liliana blinked in surprise at the unexpected request.
If she were already Riley's fiancée or the Crown Princess, attending would not be unusual. However, since Liliana was only a candidate, her attendance alone, without the other candidates present, would certainly fuel rumors that she was the chosen one. Liliana hesitated and began to shake her head, but Riley gently interrupted her.
"Not as my fiancée candidate, but as a member of the Clark family. I’d like you to attend alongside Clyde. The Crimson Dye is a specialty of the Clark Duchy, so it’s not unusual for you to be there. And to be honest, it was you, Liliana, who first introduced me to the idea of patents. So, I want you to be present when we announce this new law."
Riley’s sincerity was palpable. It was clear that he was genuinely grateful to Liliana and earnestly wanted her to witness this important moment. Given his heartfelt request, Liliana thought she couldn’t refuse.
She exhaled softly and blinked once, then quietly returned Riley's gaze and slowly nodded.
<—It would be an honor, Your Highness.>
Riley, in response, smiled in a way that was rare for him, showing a boyish joy. Liliana hid her faint smile as she took a sip of her tea.
—-
Confront her already
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